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Updated: June 28, 2025
At this Petronius rose, and, looking straight into Nero's eyes, said, "Permit me, O divinity, to celebrate a wedding-feast, to which I shall invite thee before others." "A wedding-feast! What wedding-feast?" inquired Nero. "That of Vinicius with thy hostage the daughter of the Lygian king.
To-day Sophonius, Tigellinus, Petronius, or Vatinius have more influence. As to Cæsar, perhaps he has never even heard of the Lygian people; and if he has demanded the delivery of Lygia, the hostage, he has done so because some one persuaded him to it, it is easy to guess who could do that." She raised her eyes to him quickly. "Is it Petronius?" "It is."
It was known to all the Augustians and to most of the spectators that he was the man who had stifled Croton; hence at sight of him a murmur passed along every bench. In Rome there was no lack of gladiators larger by far than the common measure of man, but Roman eyes had never seen the like of Ursus. Cassius, standing in Cæsar's podium, seemed puny compared with that Lygian.
In his half-wild Lygian heart was the wish to return to the triclinium, choke Vinicius, and, should the need come, Cæsar himself; but he feared to sacrifice thereby his mistress, and was not certain that such an act, which to him seemed very simple, would befit a confessor of the Crucified Lamb. But Acte, while caressing Lygia, asked again, "Is he so hateful to thee?"
Petronius, who knew the affair from its inception, would believe in Chilo's innocence more easily than would the prefects. But to go to him, it was needful to know with certainty what had happened to Vinicius. Chilo did not know that. He had seen, it is true, the Lygian stealing with Croton's body to the river, but nothing more. Vinicius might be killed; but he might be wounded or detained.
Fortune is blindfold, as is well known, and does not see even in daylight; what must the case be at night? Let something happen, let that Lygian bear hurl a millstone at the noble Vinicius, or a keg of wine, or, still worse, water, who will give assurance that instead of a reward blame will not fall on the hapless Chilo?
I described Glaucus as a real son of Judas, and a traitor to all Christians; I was so eloquent that a stone would have been moved, and would have promised to fall on the head of Glaucus. Still I hardly moved that Lygian bear to put his paw on him. He hesitated, was unwilling, spoke of his penance and compunction. Evidently murder is not common among them.
He is young, irascible, bounteous as mines in Cyprus, and ready to give half his fortune for that Lygian linnet. Just such a man have I been seeking this long time. It is needful, however, to be on one's guard with him, for the wrinkling of his brow forebodes no good. Ah! the wolf-whelps lord it over the world to-day! I should fear that Petronius less.
After a while, feeling the need of conversation, and of strengthening his courage, he added, "They come together like murderers; still they are not permitted to murder, unless that Lygian has deceived me shamefully."
Then the confusion and rage of the laborer at mention of Vinicius and Lygia left him no doubt that those persons concerned him particularly; the laborer had mentioned also his penance for killing a man, Ursus had killed Atacinus; finally, the appearance of the laborer answered perfectly to the account which Vinicius had given of the Lygian.
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